Index tab and clip



Nov. 22, 1966 N. L. WOOGE INDEX TAB AND CLIP Filed Jan. 25, 1965 5' a g o INVENTOR.

NORMAN L, WOOGE ATTORNE Y5 United States Patent 3,286,381 INDEX TAB AND CLIP Norman L. Wooge, Kansas City, Kans. (RR. 2, Ottawa, Kans.) Filed Jan. 25, 1965, Ser. No. 427,837 8 Claims. (Cl. 40-23) This invention relates to index tabs and the like holders, and more particularly to an index tab and clip for mounting on guide separators or other strips or sheet material.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide an index tab and clip that may be readily placed on any thickness of paper or like member without tearing the same and that will retain an index card or the like in place while mounted on such member; to provide such a structure with a generally U-shaped clamp with jaws resiliently gripping a sheet member therebetween and an index holder mounted on said clamp in upstanding relation thereto with an access opening normally closed by a clamp portion to retain the index card in the holder; to provide such a structure wherein the clip has pivotally mounted lever members for facilitating opening of the jaws in the mounting or removing the structure onto a separator sheet member; to provide such a structure wherein the index card holder has opposed walls with an aperture for exposure -of the index member; to provide such a structure wherein the holder has opposed members engaging edge portions of the clamp with one of said opposed members resiliently and releasably engaging the respective edge portion for detachably securing the holder to the clamp; and to provide an index tab and clip that is economical to manufacture, easily applied and retains the index card in place while the holder is on the clamp.

become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an index tab and clip in place on a sheet member.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the index tab and clip with portions broken away to illustrate the mounting of the holder on the clamp.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the index tab and clamp taken on the line 33, FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the index tab and clamp with the lever members in jaw-releasing position.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the index tab and clamp taken on the line 55, FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the index card holder with a card partially removed therefrom.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 generally designates an index tab and clamp adapted to be applied to a guide separator or other sheet material 2 and support an index card 3 in upstanding relation thereto. The structure includes a clamp portion 4 and a holder 5 assembled together in a manner to retain the card 3 in the holder and permitting the card to be removed only after detaching of the holder from the clamp portion.

The clamp portion 4 has a generally U-shape which includes a bight portion 7 connecting spaced legs 8 that Other objects and advantages of this invention will "ice extend from opposite sides thereof and form the jaws 9 of the clamp. The U-shaped clamp portion 4 is so constructed that the legs 8 are biased toward each other to tend to move the outer or jaw portions 9 toward each other to grip an object therebetween. In the structure illustrated, the clamp member is formed of thin flat spring material of suitable width that is bent as at spaced lines 10 and 11 that form the sides of the bight portion 7 which is therebetween and preferably slightly concave. The legs 8 extend from the bends 10 and 11 in converging relation and terminate in outwardly and reversely rolled ends 12 providing rounded portions of the jaws 9 to grip the member 2. Each of the leg members 8 has the median portion of the roll 12 cut away as at 13 to provide spaced aligned bearing portions 14 with through apertures 15 in which are pivotally mounted oppositely directed trunnions 16 of wire handle or lever members 17 so that the handle members may be pivoted to lie against the outer surfaces 18 of the member 2 as illustrated in FIG. 1 or may be swung upwardly in overlying relation to the legs 8 whereby loop portions 19 of the handle members extend beyond the bight and inward pressure on said handle members applies a leverage to spread the jaws 9, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

The holder 5 has opposed walls 20 and 21 that are spaced apart approximately the thickness of the index card 3 to be received therebetween. The holder has a top wall 22 and end walls 23 and 24 that connect to the side walls 20 and 21 and one or both of the walls 20 and 21 have openings 25 for exposure of a face of the index card 3. In the structure illustrated, the lower ends of the walls 20, 21, 23 and 24 are all suitably connected to a bottom wall 26 that extends laterally outwardly of the side walls and also outwardly from the end walls. The bottom wall 26 engages the upper surface 27 of the bight 7 of the clamp and is of suitable size to provide adequate lateral stable support thereon. It is preferred that the walls 23 and 24 at the ends of the holder be of less spacing than the width of the clamp member 4, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The bottom wall 26 has a slot 28 of a length corresponding to the spacing between the end walls 23 and 24 and of a width substantially corresponding to the spacing between the side walls 20 and 21 so that the slot 28 forms an access opening to the interior or cardreceiving chamber 29 of the holder 5. In the illustrated structure, the openings 25 extend to the bottom wall 26 and the side walls 20 and 21. The end walls 23 and 24 and top wall 22 coperate to define U-shaped track-like portions that engage margins of the index card 3 to retain same in the holder when the slot 28 is closed.

The holder 5 has hook means or end portions 30 and 31 that engage opposed end edge portions of the clamp with at least one of the portions 30 and 31 being provided with a releasable engagement whereby the holder can be detached from the clamp. The bottom wall 26 on the portion 30 extending from the end wall 23 has a downwardly and then rearwardly turned extension 32 forming a recess that receives the respective edge portion 33 of the bight 7 of the clamp to the bight is between the extension 32 and bottom wall 26. The opposite end portion 31 or the end of the bottom wall 26 extending from the end wall 24 has a resilient latch member 34 that is formed by the extension 31 being turned downwardly as at 35 at the end edge portion 36 of the bight 7 and then rearwardly and upwardly at a point spaced below the bight to form a leg 37 that engages the underside of the bight portion as at 38. The extension is then turned downwardly and outwardly to form a handle or tab 39 that is grasped to move the resilient latch member to effect disengagement from the clamp.

In use, the tab portion 39 is grasped and pulled outwardly and upwardly to disengage the latch member 34 from the bight so that it can be raised upwardly above said bight. Then, by moving the holder 5 toward the opposite end of the clamp 4, the portion 30 can be disengaged therefrom. The holder can then be removed from the clamp. The holder is then such that the slot 28 is exposed so that an index card 3 can be inserted therein. Then the holder 5 is moved over the clamp 4 whereby it is substantially upstanding from the bight portion 7. The portion 3% is engaged with the adjacent end edge 33 of the bight 7 and the opposite end of the holder forced downwardly with the tab 39 pulled outwardly to engage the bottom wall 26 with the upper surface of the bight 7 of the clamp. In this position, the bight 7 closes the slot 28 and retains the index card 3 in the holder. The tab 39 is then released so that the latch engages the edge portion 36 of the bight of the clamp 4 as illustrated in FIG. 2 to retain the holder 5 on the clamp. The handles 17 are then moved to the position illustrated in FIG. 4 and the upper ends pressed to spread the jaws 9 whereby the clamp 4 can be inserted over a member 2 and the handles released, the jaws then moving toward each other to grip the member 2 therebetween. The handles 17 are then hinged downwardly to a position overlying the surfaces 18 of the member 2 as illustrated in FIG. 1 to complete the assembly of the structure 1 onto the member 2. The index card 3 will then remain in place until such time as the holder is separated from the clamp to provide access to the interior of the holder.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described one form of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An index tab and clip comprising:

(a) a clamp member in the form of a generally U- shaped clamp having a substantially fiat bight portion with spaced resilient jaws extending therefrom for receiving and gripping a sheet member therebetween,

(b) an index card holder having a bottom wall portion engaging a clamp wall in overlying relation,

(c) means on said bottom wall engaging said clamp wall to detachably secure said bottom wall to said clamp,

(d) spaced walls mounted on said bottom wall and extending upwardly therefrom with the space between said walls defining an index card receiving cavity, one of said spaced walls having an opening for exposure of an index card that is located between said walls,

(e) said bottom wall having an opening providing access to said cavity which access is normally closed by the clamp wall.

2. An index tab and clip structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means detachably securing the holder bottom wall to the bight of the clamp is a reversely bent extension on one end of the holder bottom wall engaging over an edge portion of the clamp and a latch member on the other end of said bottom wall resiliently engaging the adjacent portion of the clamp.

3. An index tab and clip as set forth in claim 2 wherein handles are pivotally mounted on the jaws of the clamp and swingable to an overlying position for use as levers for opening said jaws and in another position will extend from the ends of the jaws and overlie the member gripped therebetween.

4. An index tab and clip comprising:

(a) a clamp member in the form of a generally U- shaped clamp having a substantially flat bight portion with spaced resilient jaws extending therefrom for receiving and gripping a sheet member therebetween,

(b) an index card holder having a wall portion engaging said bight in overlying relation,

(c) means on said bottom wall engaging said bight to detachably secure said bottom wall to said bight,

(d) spaced walls defining an open bottom structure and secured to said bottom wall whereby said spaced walls extend upwardly therefrom with the space between said walls defining an index card receiving cavity,

(e) said bottom wall having an opening providing access to said cavity which access is normally closed by thebight of the clamp.

5. An index tab and clip comprising:

(a) a clamp member in the form of a generally U-shaped clamp having a substantially flat bright portion with spaced resilient jaws extending therefrom for receiving and gripping a sheet member therebetween,

, (b) an index card holder having a wall portion engaging said bight in overlying relation,

(c) means on said bottom wall engaging said bight to detachably secure said bottom wall to said bight, (d) spaced walls connected at top and end edges defining an open bottom structure and having lower edges secured to said bottom wall whereby said spaced walls extend upwardly therefrom with the space between said walls defining an index card receiving cavity, one of said spaced walls having an opefiiing for exposure of an index card between said wa s,

(e) said bottom wall having a slot coextensive with the end of the cavity between said spaced walls to provide access to said cavity which access is normally closed by the bight of the clamp.

6. An index tab and clip comprising:

(a) an index member holder having a frame with an open side with said frame having a peripheral portion of generally U-shape in cross-section to engage over a periphery of an index member which is only removable from the open side of said holder,

(b) a wall extending across said open side of said frame and secured thereto, said wall having an opening therein registering with the interior of the holder for insertion of an index member therethrough into said holder,

(c) a clamp member having opposed jaws for receiving and gripping a sheet member therebetween, said clamp member having opposed ends,

((1) and opposed hook means on said wall of the closure detachably engaging over a wall of said clamp with said clamp wall closing said slot.

7. An index tab and clip stnucture as set forth in claim 6 wherein the opposed hook means on the holder wall detachably secures the holder to the clamp and is a reversely bent extension on one end of the holder wall engaging over an edge portion of the clamp wall and a latch member on the other end of said holder wall resiliently engaging the other end of said clamp wall.

8. An index tab and clip comprising:

(a) an index member holder having a frame with an open side with said frame being generally U-shaped in cross-section to engage over a periphery of an index member which is only removable from the open side of said holder,

(b) a wall extending across said open side of said holder and having an opening therein registering with the interior of the holder for insertion of an index member therethrough into said holder,

(c) said frame and wall defining opposed apertures through which an index card in the holder is visible,

(d) a clamp member having opposed jaws for receiving and gripping a sheet member therebetween, said clamp member having opposed ends,

(e) opposed hook means on said wall of the closure engaging over a wall of said clamp with said wall closing said slot.

(f) and means extending from one of said hook memfor detaching said holder from the clamp.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. bers for etfeeting release thereof from said clamp 10 W J. CONTRERAS Assistant Examiner 

1. AN INDEX TAB AND CLIP COMPRISING: (A) A CLAMP MEMBER IN THE FORM OF A GENERALLY USHAPED CLAMP HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT BIGHT PORTION WITH SPACED RESILIENT JAWS EXTENDING THEREFROM FOR RECEIVING AND GRIPPING A SHEET MEMBER THEREBETWEEN, (B) AN INDEX CARD HOLDER HAVING A BOTTOM WALL PORTION ENGAGING A CLAMP WALL IN OVERLYING RELATION, (C) MEANS ON SAID BOTTOM WALL ENGAGING SAID CLAMP WALL TO DETACHABLY SECURE SAID BOTTOM WALL TO SAID CLAMP, (D) SPACED WALLS MOUNTED ON SAID BOTTOM WALL AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM WITH THE SPACE BE- 